Steve1872

RANGERS contract rebel Kyle Lafferty was last night caught up in a FIFA registration storm. SunSport can reveal the striker made his debut for Swiss side Sion in a 1-1 friendly draw with Marseille on Sunday â?? without being granted international clearance. Laff, 24, signed for the Swiss side last week but his registration remains with the Gers oldco. Sion believe a loophole in their own FAâ??s rules allowed them to play Lafferty. But Gers have now declared war on the Swiss club. New chief executive Charles Green is raging at their arrogance as he cranks up his battle against the clubâ??s rebel stars. A Gers spokesperson said: â??No permission was granted and we will take this matter up with the SFA and FIFA.â? SunSport understands the Swiss FA didnâ??t even apply to the SFA on Sionâ??s behalf for international clearance until 24 hours AFTER Laff made his debut. The controversial Swiss club were deducted 36 league points and kicked out of the Europa League last season for fielding six players they had signed during a transfer embargo. Controversial owner Christian Constantin laughed off Rangersâ?? threats of taking his club to FIFA. He said: â??Rangers lost all rights to their players when they went into bankruptcy. â??Lafferty is our player now and he will be allowed to work in Switzerland.â? The Lafferty row erupted as the SFA confirmed they have blocked clearance for FIVE former Ibrox stars to join clubs. With Gers refusing to agree to the playersâ?? release, the SFA are unable to authorise the registration transfers. FIFA could step in and provide temporary registrations for the players prior to a formal ruling. But PFA Scotland lawyer Margaret Gribbon admits she is not shocked by the SFAâ??s tough stance. She said: â??It is no surprise to us. There are objections from Rangers plc and the newco. We knew it was going to happen. They were always going to do that and there is a process that has to be followed. â??At the moment, we are assisting two clubs to get clearance from FIFA. Our application is being supported by letters from the English FA and from PFA Scotland.â? A FIFA spokesperson said: â??FIFA does not appear to have been approached by any association with respect to the international clearance of any particular player who is currently registered with Rangers.â? Meanwhile, SFL chief executive David Longmuir last night insisted his 30 clubs and NOT board members will decide Gersâ?? fate on Friday. Longmuir says the clubs will initially vote on allowing the newco into their league â?? then vote again on whether they will start in Division One or Three. He added: â??Pressure is coming from a number of sources but it will be the clubs who vote. â??All the board are doing is looking at a potential scenario where Rangers could go to the First Division if the criteria were in place.â? Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/4420549/Swiss-facing-FIFA-rap-for-Kyle-debut.html#ixzz20Ad4Rj4T

CRISIS-hit Rangers have been given the flick by footy table top game SUBBUTEO. No tiny plastic players will sport the Light Blue this season after the newco Ibrox club failed to sign a contract with the makers in time. And that leaves arch rivals Celtic as Subbuteoâ??s only Scots team â?? joining English giants like Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. The previous Ibrox regime HAD agreed to a new model version of Rangers. But the reborn club led by Charles Green has still not rubber-stamped the paperwork. Last night Richard Wells, sales director at Subbuteo maker Paul Lamond Games, said: â??We agreed a licence and the team was ready to go. â??But weâ??ve had to apply for a new licence with the newco Rangers. â??The contract is ready and waiting to be signed â?? but itâ??s probably not the first thing on the managementâ??s mind right now.â? Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/feeds/smartphone/scotland/4418863/Rangers-dumped-by-Subbuteo.html#ixzz20AZBkqQr

letter to duff+phelps https://twitter.com/DEVILSADVOKAT/status/222261403166310400/photo/1/large GIOVANNI DI STEFANO‏@DEVILSADVOKAT Letter to Duff and Phelps offer to buy the corporate shell The Rangers Football Club PLC which is only in admin

FA Pyramid http://www.thepyramid.info/asp/pyramid3.asp

John Bomber Brown‏@johnbomberbrown The albion car park brought in £900k last season ( how many games did rangers play at ibrox ) then add the days car park not used. OWNER got

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-812973 RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB FOR THE ENGLISH FA? THE JAMES BOND CONNECTION. By OnlinePubCo | Posted 3 minutes ago | UK CNN PRODUCER NOTE In a tersely worded letter Giovanni Di Stefano ex head of three football clubs that have competed in UEFA Championships unleashes a question that may baffle the sombre English FA. The question is whether or not Rangers Football Club is a member of the FA. The answer to that question may well be the difference between Rangers Football Club playing at a level they deserve or not at all. On Friday 13th the Scottish Football League will vote on whether a new company acquired by Charles Green from the ashes of Rangers Football Club PLC can play in Scotland. Di Stefano better known as the Devilâ??s Advocate has stated in his letter to the English FA that â??will admit what we will call the â??newâ?? Rangers Football Club into their Division 1 without sanctions.â? If that does occur it will infuriate the Rangers Supporters who preferred a start at lowly Div.3 of the Scottish League. But Di Stefano contends in his letter that: â??According to research carried by a supporter of Rangers Football Club the club was per se admitted to the English FA in a special sitting in 1885 and I note that the English FA was already in its incorporated form since 26th October 1863.â? Whilst the answer to such may seem academic only and may keep many sport lawyers occupied Di Stefanoâ??s motives appear commercial. At the moment The Rangers Football Club PLC is still only in administration and thus a company capable of being resurrected. Millionaire Charles Green acquired the assets of Rangers Football Club PLC for just over £5 million when the British Government refused a deal on the tax they say they are owed. â??But that is only a contingent liability and the tax authorities may or may not succeed in Court. If they do not then Rangers Football Club PLC is a viable proposition IF it has English league standing,â? said Di Stefano. â??Since the English League does not start for some time I can confirm that subject to your response on this vital issue there is a prospective party from the Middle East who may well acquire the shares of The Rangers Football Club PLC (in administration) and accept all the contingent liabilities if the club is still de facto entitle, as it would appear it is, to play in the English FA League since there is no evidence to the contrary,â? is the final paragraph of the letter. But where would that leave Charles Green and Sevco 5088 Ltd that acquired Ibrox stadium? Di Stefano has always contended that the football club is a different entity to the corporate body. The option of playing in the English league has been mooted by Scottish Clubs for some time but never properly advanced. The attitude of the media broadcasters that bankroll Scottish Football is clear that if Rangers are not part of the equation then as one executive said â??itâ??s no deal or a limited deal.â? One question was however, answered that many movie buffs have been asking for over fifty years. Why was James Bond given the numbers 007? In his letter to David Bernstein the answer Di Stefano letâ??s slip. â??The Football Association became a Limited Liability Company on the 23rd June 1903 under company registration number 00077797. I understand in fact that Ian Fleming who enjoyed football so much used the 007 numbers from the certificate of incorporation for his fictional character James Bond.â? The affairs and fate of Rangers Football Club certainly require the likes of James Bond to unravel.

SASA PAPAC is poised to quit the game in the wake of the Rangers debacle. The Bosnian defender left Ibrox at the end of his contract and has had some big-money offers from clubs in England, Turkey and Russia. But the 32-year-old has been left drained by the last few years in Scotland and is now giving serious thought to hanging up his boots. Papac took a 75 per cent pay cut to keep crisis-hit Rangers alive in February. He then underwent a groin operation in April which ended his Rangers career prematurely. Throughout his time at Rangers, Papac had to be mindful of his health â?? particularly a head injury sustained years ago during a car-crash in Austria which resulted in him suffering severe headaches after particularly tough matches. Sasa is now on holiday with one decision to make â?? does he carry on or stop playing altogether? Now the stress of the last few years on body and mind has taken its toll and left the one-time Ibrox fans favourite on the verge of giving up. Last night his Serbian-based agent Petar Bazic confirmed: â??Sasa is now on holiday with one decision to make â?? does he carry on or stop playing altogether? â??His fitness is good right now and he could carry on, but football at the top level can be tough on the mind. â??Sasa has a had a lot to deal with at Rangers and that can affect a player and their motivation. â??He enjoyed life in Scotland, but maybe there comes a point when you feel that itâ??s right to stop. â??I will not pressure him and will give him space to decide for himself. â??All I can say is that heâ??s fit enough to keep playing and there are good offers for him.â? Papac left Austria Vienna in 2006 to join Paul le Guenâ??s Rangers in an £800,000 deal. But while most of Le Guenâ??s buys flopped, quiet man Papac went on to become a stalwart under Walter Smith and Ally McCoist and something of an unsung hero during 161 appearances. He won three SPL titles, two Scottish Cups and a hat-trick of League Cups during his spell at Ibrox. Now though, the Rangers crisis looks to have taken another victim. Bazic added: â??He has been a guest of mine in Belgrade over the last few days and we talked about what he does next. â??There are two excellent offers from Turkey and one from Russia. There is interest in England. â??But first Sasa must decide if he wants to play â?? and thatâ??s a decision he will reach with his family.â? Meanwhile, Carlos Bocanegra last night gave the clearest hint yet he could walk away from Rangers and return to the MLS. The USA captain has still to return to Scotland for pre-season training with Rangers after being given extended leave following his summer of playing World Cup qualifiers. He announced last week he still hasnâ??t decided whether he will return to the Ibrox side until he knows what league they will play in this season. Bocanegra, 33, played a celebrity game of softball last night in an charity match in Kansas City and admitted for the first time that heâ??s seriously thinking about returning to America. Bocanegra said: â??Iâ??d 100 per cent consider playing in MLS again. â??I started here and I know the league well. I know itâ??s a demanding league, a physical league. â??I donâ??t want to elaborate on a possible timetable for a move, but I would never rule it out.â? Bocanegraâ??s admission came after New England Revolution declared their interest in the ex-Fulham ace. New England head coach Jay Heaps admitted: â??I like Carlos Bocanegra and heâ??s one of a number of players weâ??d like to come back.â? Bocanegra last played in his national league eight years ago with Chicago Fire. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/331668

David Longmuir is facing calls for his resignation as the Scottish Football League chief executive continues to clash with his members over which division Charles Green's newco Rangers should play in next season. It also emerged that if Longmuir's bid to launch Sevco Scotland Ltd directly into the First Division is rejected by the SFL clubs, then it will result in logistical chaos on the eve of the new season. All 30 SFL clubs will meet at Hampden on Friday, when Longmuir will discover their response to a letter he sent out to them at the weekend. The two main points of that document are that the clubs should first vote on whether or not to accept Sevco Scotland Ltd into the SFL, then, whether they are in favour of allowing the SFL Board (rather than the clubs) to choose which division they will compete in. The second vote will hinge on the SFL gaining certain concessions from the SPL regarding play-offs and a fairer distribution of income. Should Longmuir get his way, Board member and SFL President Jim Ballantyne, who is also chairman of Airdrie United, will decline to vote due to a conflict of interest, since the Lanarkshire outfit would, as losing play-off finalists, automatically be promoted to the First Division if Sevco (like any other new applicant) are forced to begin life in the bottom tier. That will leave Longmuir, vice pres ident Ewen Cameron (Alloa), Anne McKeown (Arbroath), Malcolm Mackay (Queen's Park), Gordon McDougall (Livingston), Gilbert Lawrie (Dumbarton), Ken Ferguson (Brechin) and Jim Leishman (Dunfermline) to decide the newco's fate. However, the contents of the letter have infuriated many SFL clubs, who regard the latest move as an attempt to hijack the democratic procedures of the organisation in order to ensure entry into the First Division for the new-look Rangers. One chairman said: 'What they're attempting to do is scandalous. They're just making up the rules as they go along. 'The two main votes will be decided on a straight 16-14 majority. I don't think that anyone objects to this new Rangers joining the Third Division, but I believe there will be enough dissenters to prevent the Board from gerrymandering them into the First. 'If Longmuir's motion is rejected, then his competence would have to be questioned. This is all part of a bullying campaign, which was underlined last week when the SPL's chief executive, Neil Doncaster, told us that the SPL clubs couldn't afford to pay the annual £1.8million settlement fee to the SFL if Rangers drop into the Third Division and Sky walk away from their TV deal. 'Meanwhile, the SFA's chief executive, Stewart Regan, seems to want to exploit the Rangers crisis in order to push through his own reforms. He's been working away at this for months.' If the clubs allow Rangers to join the SFL, but then refuse to grant their Board permission to decide which division they should compete in, then Longmuir would be forced to call another general meeting on July 20 - SFL rules state that five working days' notice must be given - to vote on that issue. With the Ramsdens Cup beginning just eight days later, time is running out for the SFL to sort the mess out. Should Rangers' SPL place be taken by Dundee, they'll be away to Brechin City: in the less likely event of Dunfermline avoiding demotion, Ally McCoist's side will travel to Forfar. Then again, if Green's Sevco is denied the opportunity to join the First Division and admitted to the fourth tier, newco Rangers, rather than Stranraer, will have a home tie against Stenhousemuir Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2170608/David-Longmuir-facing-calls-resignation.html#ixzz204OogMD2

John Bomber Brown‏@johnbomberbrown All i can tell you for a fact is if you give them ur ST money it will go into a black hole. GONE i will have more info soon

Jonathan Hope and Boyack?

John Bomber Brown‏@johnbomberbrown I called m murray more thn 15 times since TFFF meeting last week- NO reply Every day im getting more info that i will be able to tell you

http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?44620-Hibs-supporters-statement hibs statement

Sunday, 08 July 2012 20:08 It is with little surprise but some dismay that we note the statement made today by the Hibernian Supporters Club. Give the propensity for these statements to appear in groups we feel it is worth correcting some of the inaccuracies contained within it before others make the same mistakes. After all, given the now shattered falsehood that â??sporting integrityâ?? was the overriding aim of clubs in the SPL, we should do all we can to avoid another myth being perpetuated by those clubs and their fan groups. It is probably worth noting that we fully agree with the Hibs Clubâ??s opposition to the SFA/SPL aim of placing Rangers into Division 1 of the SFL. However, their assertion that this is being done to assist Rangers is absurd. The Rangers fans have made it very clear that we wish the club to resume playing in Division 3. This has been communicated to both the board and the manager of our club and they are entirely supportive. This is the correct solution and one which means the club will forever be beyond reproach. The tactics being employed by the SPL and SFA in order to deny Rangers the opportunity to do so are outrageous. However, let us be very clear. This â??solutionâ?? is being cobbled together for the benefit of clubs in the SPL, like Hibernian, who have based their business models around having Rangers in the league. It is being done so that Rangers can be used as a cash cow to sustain these clubs whilst inflicting maximum damage on our clubâ??s ability to compete. If our club are forced into this it will be purely to protect the financial interests of the current SPL clubs. Whilst we have little interest in whether the financial projections for the SPL clubs are accurate, the SPL chairmen clearly feel that they can sustain their clubs with reduced, or no, TV revenue and sponsorship and without the patronage of our away support. We wish them the best of luck. The SFL clubs are blameless in this scenario. They are being blackmailed by the spectre of formation of SPL 2 and should not have been put in this position by the SPL clubs and the SFA. The SFA are also attempting to blackmail Rangers into accepting these proposals using a licence document concocted specifically to threaten our club. That the Hibs Club should use Rangersâ?? successful court challenge of an unlawful SFA sanction as an excuse to attack our manager says everything about the motives behind their statement. If the Hibernian fans, or fans of any other SPL club, are unhappy with the plan to place our club, against its will, in Division 1, then perhaps they should address their concerns to the boards of the Scottish football authorities, rather than taking it as a further opportunity to attack our club. Indeed, the Hibernian Supporters Club are in an excellent position to do so, given that their Chairman, Rod Petrie, is one of the main architects of this proposal along with Stewart Regan, Neil Doncaster and the club chairmen who are lucky enough to hold privileged positions on the boards of the SPL and SFA. Rangers Football Club has existed and prospered for 140 years. We are in the middle of a very difficult period in our history but are resolute in the knowledge that our club will be here for another 140 years, and beyond. We look forward to being given the opportunity to make new friends in our journey through the Scottish leagues, starting in Division 3. We are sure this journey will benefit the clubs in those leagues and look forward to returning to a prosperous SPL with bountiful â??sporting integrityâ??. If we are denied this opportunity then rival clubs should look no further than their own chairman for someone to blame. http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/latest-rst-news/472-rst-board-and-members-statement

John Bomber Brown‏@johnbomberbrown So £5.5m buys you the assets of RFC?.. Dont think so.....ask GREEN what hold over assets has TICKETUS and WHYTE.....

says it would never happen to Real Madrid or Manchester United as was proven with Leeds

Henry McLelland says the threat of having Scottish Premier League money withdrawn will not force Annan into voting newco Rangers into Division One. Scottish Football League clubs must decide whether the new club will play there or in Division Three. The SFL is paid about £2m every year by the Scottish Premier League. "The SPL are threatening that, without Rangers in Division One, the money would be withdrawn - because they can't afford to pay," said Annan's chairman. â??It's total dismay at the way they are dealing with this. We feel as though we're being bulliedâ? "The SFL accounts show that that money is almost the total money that's distributed to the clubs throughout the season. "Annan would get around £60,000 that could disappear. But, if that's the case then as a club they will deal with it by cutting their cloth accordingly. "We feel Rangers should be in Division Three and our stance hasn't changed." Charles Green's Sevco consortium had their application to replace the old liquidated Rangers in the Scottish Premier League rejected last week. And the 30 SFL clubs will meet on Friday to decide whether to accept the new Rangers as members - and in which division they will play. Annan were the last club to join the SFL, in Division Three, replacing Gretna after their neighbours went into liquidation following relegation from the SPL four years ago and McLelland thinks that set a precedent. McLelland wants talks on reorganisation to be delayed until after Rangers issue is settled "When Gretna hit trouble, it was made clear by the SFL then that, for the integrity of the game and the Scottish Football League, Gretna would have to drop into Division Three," McLelland told BBC Scotland. "The same thing happened with Livingston. Rangers are a big institution, but that doesn't merit them being a special case." SFL clubs could be asked to also agree to a future merger of their parent body and the SPL, with play-offs to Division One and a change to voting rights and money distribution. "The restructuring of the game and the way forward needs to be dealt with seperately from the Rangers situation," said McLelland. "Once the Rangers issue is settled then the clubs need to remain level-headed and move on to make radical changes for the good of the game, but that must be dealt with on its own." McLelland is critical of the Scottish Football Assocation for failing to take control of the crisis and by allowing it to remain unresolved four weeks before the start of the new season. The SPL and Scottish Football Association have warned that, without Rangers in Division One with the possibility of winning promotion to the top-flight in one season, television contracts will be lost and more clubs could face administration. "Clubs will need to look at their wages and they'll need to look at local Scottish talent," said McLelland. "It's total dismay at the way they are dealing with this. We feel as though we're being bullied." McLelland recognised that Rangers would be overwhelming favourites to win Division Three, but he said it was something Annan would have to accept even if it denied them the chance of an automatic promotion spot.

In fact Queens Park joined the FA in 1870 have yet to be kicked out ok they are in SFA but they still English FA.. Interesting In 1899 queens park elected to SFA but never surrendered the EFA so like Rangers the position is both Rangers and Queens Park still FA Queens park even played in the sheriff of London charity shield cup AFTER election to SFA Let's see what EFA tell me tomorrow and remember if it's negative decision is appealable ... Anyone holding one share in RFC PLC I will buy Anyone holding one share in RFC PLC pls email me I wanna buy one share As it is a private sale it's ok GIOVANNI DI STEFANO‏@DEVILSADVOKAT I don't want for zero I will pay for one share but only one

The 1st Standard Security -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There has been a lot of speculation on why Bomber is so keen for Donald Findlay to meet with Charles Green & Malcolm Murray and this is my understanding of it going on the recents statements & tweets from Bomber. I repeat this is just my take on it. What they are looking for is to establish who owns Ibrox stadium,the Albion car park and Murray park. Whose name is on what is known as "The 1st standard security" ( the 1st charge ) because it is they who hold the ownership of the assets of our treasured Rangers. The Bank of Scotland held the 1st charge then David Murray. It was passed over to Craig Whyte who subsequently borrowed £26m from Ticketus and paid off the Lloyds Bank debt of £18m. So Craig Whyte is the owner of the assets...i.e. Ibrox stadium,The Albion car park and Murray park. Charles Green will say he has the title deeds but he doesn't have the 1st charge. It's the above question the Charles Green needs to answer and clear this up once and for all. of FF

Letter to English FA https://twitter.com/DEVILSADVOKAT/status/221905443889491968/photo/1 https://twitter.com/DEVILSADVOKAT/status/221905568196083712/photo/1 https://twitter.com/DEVILSADVOKAT/status/221905666997108736/photo/1

This was written 4 years ago but never posted..... Over the last decade a frenzied, often hysterical, debate has raged over the impact of sectarianism in our society. The problem with this is that it comes at least thirty years after Scotland actually overcame the problem in almost every meaningful way. This is certainly the conclusion of the published 2004 academic study 'Sectarianism in Scotland' by Bruce, Glendinning, Paterson and Rosie. Bruce et al distil the societal, economic, legal, statistical and indeed anecdotal evidence to conclude that sectarianism has little meaning or tangible influence across Scotland other than some distasteful verbals by supporters of Rangers and Celtic. The Old Firm are therefore synonymous with the sectarian problem yet only Rangers appear to be constantly harangued for this. It has, sadly, become a somewhat childish game of faux offence. Let me say at this point that I desperately wish I didn’t have to have an opinion on all this nonsense. However, the manipulated perception of Rangers and their fans means I reluctantly have to. In an increasingly secular, multicultural and intertwined world it would be too simplistic and outdated to label Rangers and Celtic as Protestant and Catholic teams. But equally it would be a disservice to Scottish history not to concede they have a respective Protestant and Catholic heritage. It appears that for one club this heritage is to be celebrated, yet for the other it is absolutely taboo. When a recent high profile player joined Celtic it was merrily reported that his agent said words to the effect that 'he was delighted to be joining a great Catholic team'. Not a single eyebrow was raised throughout the country. Now imagine the collective hysteria had Kyle Lafferty said on signing up at Ibrox that he was 'delighted to be joining up a great Protestant team'. It would be perceived to be the most shockingly sectarian incident since the Ibrox grass was – according to a fallacious report in the News Of The World - cut in a sectarian manner. Really! Sasha Baron Cohen's character, Ali G, touches at the heart of this every time he asks ‘is it because I is black?’. In Scotland the question isnt one of colour, but religion, and is designed to prey on malleable people’s baseless guilt. As the more vocal ‘Celtic Minded’ know, if you exploit this sufficiently you will be absolved from any degree of accountability. Artur Boruc’s peculiarly un-Christian Old Firm antics represent a case in point in this respect. No matter how crass his behaviour, it cannot be questioned as it is interpreted as an attack on his faith, which is to be revered. A powerful lobby is always on hand to vindicate him irrespective of the facts. Similarly, Neil Lennon’s yobbish behaviour and insults were never questioned for as long as he could claim to be a victim of similar abuse. It doesn’t work both ways apparently. So while Rangers as a club and the fans’ songs are scrutinised to the nth degree, high profile Celtic personalities can freely share a billing with fiercely pro-IRA bands without any recourse from the media. Gross double standards abound and no media personality has the gumption to care or backbone to question. There has undoubtedly been a coordinated and sustained effort by the media-savvy ‘Celtic Minded’ to keep control over the sectarian industry. The aggressive media management by Celtic and the overbearing influence of only one church at Holyrood compare so favourably set against the media impotence of Rangers and the invisibility of Scotland’s largest church. The Celtic Minded are more united, image-conscious and on-message. The equivalent Rangers Minded can barely agree on the need for a message, let alone what it might be. Rangers as a club understand public relations in the same way an amoeba understands Shakespeare. Disparity breeds contempt and polarises views. If you’re controlling the debate of course you don’t care. When you are on the receiving end of it though, it creates resentment and anger. What harmony, trust and consensus can be achieved in such circumstances? After all we live in a country where it’s instantly deemed bigoted to question the social and economic sense of segregating children at five years of age. This reminds us we have a long way to go before the fog of hysteria clears. Rangers have a responsibility to become more involved in the wider social debate, to inspire, defend and lead the fans. It would most certainly help if they would refute the endless nonsense we are subjected to in a similar manner to the way Celtic obsessively defend themselves. All we want is parity of treatment. Abuse of Rangers stars, fans, etc must be taken as seriously as that directed against Celtic and the heritage of both clubs should be treated with the same honesty and respect. The above is not intended to deflect from some real issues that the Rangers support must face, in particular, the crass lyrics of some of the singing repertoire. There is so much more to celebrate about The Rangers than some tired old rubbish about the Pope, the famine or ‘Jacobites’. Thankfully, though, significant progress is being made on this front. Indeed the Rangers support must be ready for real change in our time, most notably if the movement towards Scottish independence gathers force. The bonds that tie the British nations have alarmingly diminished over the last decade, partly due to unpopular participation in Blair and Bush’s Middle East chaos and partly due to the failings of Westminster Labour government riddled with Scots. The question of Scottish independence should always be open but it should never be based on sentiment, either for or against, as nationalism should never be more important than opportunity, prosperity and fairness. If it can objectively be demonstrated to be better for the people of Scotland then so be it, although for me the case has yet to be proven beyond the risks. So ‘British-ness’ is out of fashion, bitter Anglophobia is tolerated and on the rise and the Union is under threat. While many Rangers fans will be fearful of this it cannot be said that all will. For the truth is the Rangers support is a genuinely broad church when it comes to issues of national identity, religious belief, interest or dedication to Loyalist institutions, the monarchy, the political spectrum, and social values. The Rangers support reaches all across Scotland; from Shetland to the Borders there are legions of Rangers fans. Every time I see someone wearing a Rangers top it makes me smile. It can even make my day when I’m far away from Scotland. And I don’t give a second thought to their politics, creed, religion or nationality – ultimately I have a bond with them on the one thing that transcends all – the Famous Glasgow Rangers. My team. off FF

A senior Football League source has just leaked this to me. Note second section which appears to be a clear attempt to by-pass any vote and shoehorn Rangers Newco into Div 1. Incredible. You have been warned: Subject: SFL Special General Meeting – Friday, 13th July, 2012 Dear Sir or Madam, NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING – SCOTTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE Notice is hereby given that a Special General Meeting of The Scottish Football League will be held within the Bell/Baird Suite on the fifth floor of Hampden Park, Glasgow on Friday, 13th July, 2012 at 11.00 a.m. for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, approving the following proposals:- (i) That the Scottish Football League Members agree to admit Sevco Scotland Limited as an Associate Member and agrees to permit Rangers F.C. to play in the League during Season 2012/13. (ii) That the Scottish Football League Members direct the Board of Management of The Scottish Football League (the “Board”) to provide that Rangers F.C. shall play in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League during Season 2012/13 unless the Board shall have to its satisfaction negotiated and reached agreement with The Scottish Premier League and The Scottish Football Association on a series of measures which the Board shall consider to be in the best interests of the game, how it is structured, how it is governed and how it is financed, whereupon the Board shall be authorised to provide that Rangers F.C. shall play in the First Division of the Scottish Football League during Season 2012/13. (iii) That the Scottish Football League Members in terms of Rule 12 approve the resignation of either Dundee F.C. or Dunfermline Athletic F.C., whichever shall be admitted to join the Scottish Premier League for Season 2012/13, such resignation to take effect as at the date of admission of such club to the Scottish Premier League, notwithstanding that the requisite notice under Rule 12 shall not have been given.Details of the series of measures referred to at (ii) above shall be made available to the Members in advance of the meeting and an opportunity for full discussion of those measures will be given prior to the proposals being put to the meeting. In accordance with the terms of SFL Rule 53, your club must send one representative to this meeting and I would be most grateful if you could advise me of the name of your representative by return. A buffet lunch will be served at the conclusion of the meeting. Kind regards, David A. Longmuir Chief Executive, SFL.

My sources are senior and widely respected figures in Scottish League Football and rarely have I heard men so angry about an invitation to a meeting. They describe it in many ways, some of which I know my lawyer will not allow me to pass on. So letâ??s just choose one adjective: â??Despicable.â? Their reaction of course, all flows from that second paragraph of the invitation to next Fridayâ??s meeting where the SFL says: â??That the Scottish Football League Members direct the Board of Management of The Scottish Football League (the â??Boardâ?) to provide that Rangers F.C. shall play in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League during Season 2012/13 unless the Board shall have to its satisfaction negotiated and reached agreement with The Scottish Premier League and The Scottish Football Association on a series of measures which the Board shall consider to be in the best interests of the game, how it is structured, how it is governed and how it is financed, whereupon the Board shall be authorised to provide that Rangers F.C. shall play in the First Division of the Scottish Football League during Season 2012/13.â? My sources have spoken exclusively to Channel 4 News and say that many in the league are not simply enraged that their vote is being taken away but that the SFA and SPL are now also directly involved and directly involved in effectively gagging the League clubs by stifling their votes. My sources decline to be identified at this stage but one said: â??Theyâ??ve just gone ahead to steamroller us. Itâ??s farcical. Theyâ??ve cooked it all up amongst themselves.â? Speaking on condition of anonymity he says there is now very little trust held by many senior League people in either the SFA or the SPL both as organisations in this matter and in terms of the conduct of their respective Chief Executives Stewart Regan and Neil Doncaster. He was one of a number this afternoon accusing Scottish Football of simply tearing up its own rulebook and suggested that either FIFA or UEFA might well be interested in taking a look at what is going on. I have not been able to contact UEFA, the SFA or the SFL on this matter, it being a weekend. This will further enrage fans across the country who have long suspected a stitch-up. Recent threats and hyperbole from Scottish footballâ??s authorities about â??Armageddonâ? if â??Rangersâ? go to D3 wonâ??t have helped. Still less the SFAâ??s Stewart Regan contemplating â??social unrestâ? if â??Rangersâ? disappear. Leaving aside various police forces who dealt with actual social unrest when Rangers FC fans did appear, his wild speculation looked desperate, not least given its hypothetical context. Like todayâ??s extraordinary letter of intent, it speaks of the utter desperation Scottish footballâ??s governing bodies have to find some way, somehow, somewhere to go on milking the so-called â??Rangersâ? cash-cow. At least now this latest tactic is unmasked, leaked as they surely knew it would be. Many will conclude that fans, chairmen and players have five days now to counteract the latest gambit-of-despair from Hampden Park. http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/rangers-vote/2201

GIOVANNI DI STEFANO‏@DEVILSADVOKAT In 1885 rangers football club was admitted to the English FA with a seat on the committee. That was brought to my attention By a true Rangers supporter. Since the RFC was not incorporated till 1899 that means the club in the unincorporated firm was admitted To the English FA.... On Monday I will know if that is still valid which I believe to be... If so then RFC may have an alternative But RFC will really need the likes of mr Findlay but it is a possibility As it was the unincorporated RFC that was admitted then in theory an unincorporated RFC is still a member but Monday FA will confirm to me

Wavetower Limited (subsequently renamed The Rangers FC Group Limited) is owned by Liberty Capital, which is Whyte's holding company

By ANDY GORAM Published: 17 minutes ago LIKE almost every other Rangers fan alive, Iâ??m all in favour of starting from scratch in Division Three. Taking our medicine and rebuilding this great club of ours with pride. Rangers have made mistakes and they should be punished. And, in my eyes, demotion to Division Three is the right way to go. But, for the sake of Scottish football and the future of the game in this country, the ONLY thing to do is to parachute Gers into Division One. Anything else would spell the end. Armageddon, financial meltdown, call it what you will. If Rangers are banished to the Third Division we might as well pull down the shutters and go home. Scottish football would be dead in the water. Up and down the country there are chairmen and chief executives who are now finally waking up to this. I donâ??t care if people call me arrogant, no Rangers means no Scottish football. And thatâ??s why I applaud Stewart Regan for having the b***s to stand up and say so. Donâ??t get me wrong, I think the SFAâ??s chief executive could have handled it better. To suggest there would be mass social unrest without Rangers was ridiculous. But the sentiment was right. There has been a witch-hunt orchestrated against my old club and in the stampede to see Gers punished people have lost sighof the bigger picture. Yes, Rangers should be dealt with but the bloodlust must stop. The very future of the game in this country depends on it. Iâ??ve no idea how the vote will eventually go next Friday but common sense just HAS to prevail. And if Rangers do find themselves playing in the First Division then they must be sanction-free. Rangers have been absolutely beaten over the head with sporting integrity. Itâ??s the reason they wonâ??t be playing top-flight football next season and the reason many want to see them start again in Division Three. But if they somehow end up in Division One then Iâ??m afraid sporting integrity flies out the window â?? along with any sanctions. Many Rangers supporters have been asking me what is happening with John Brownâ??s bid for the club. Let me assure you all, Bomber has been working flat out and things are gathering pace behind the scenes. We are hopeful of an announcement next week. Bomber, as you know, put a bid in last week of £8.7million and it was refused point blank. But we all know Charles Green is not in the project for the long run. There will hopefully be an announcement next week and fingers crossed it will be successful with the figure that he wants. He canâ??t backtrack on that now. Hopefully thatâ??ll happen and get the club back to the fans as Johnâ??s idea is no one individual will run the club. The supporters deserve to be involved in the club now. And thatâ??s his plan, bring Rangers men back to the club and really start from there. Charles Green really must consider his position. There is no long-term plan at all, there is no investment coming in. They keep coming up with figures but they have never proved it. Bomber tried to get his legal team in to have a look at the title deeds for everything and to make sure that itâ??s all above board. If you think thatâ??s the case, then sure, just go ahead and buy your season tickets. But by that time hopefully something else will be in place â?? and we can genuinely move the football club forward in a different direction for the future. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/4415225/Rangers-in-First-is-only-way-to-save-our-game.html#ixzz1ztCo1xsS